Northeastern broke through with 38.8 seconds left in the opening period when a shot by Jordan Harris was picked up behind the goal and wrapped around by Lincoln Griffin. That was when BC goaltender Joseph Woll appeared to lose touch with the puck: His glove had saved it, but he was looking behind him to see if it was in the net. Before he realized the puck was still in play, Austin Plevy—a fourth-line forward with only two goals this season—knocked it loose puck for an opening goal. It was a heartbreaking result for the Eagles, who had withstood an early run of attack by the Huskies.

Griffin Boedicker, a third-year Northeastern student, was one of nearly 2,000 Huskies fans cheering the early score. Boedicker was at the Garden  a year ago when the Huskies won their first Beanpot title in 30 years. What Boedicker remembers most from that night was the players rushing onto the ice after the final buzzer sounded and celebrating together.

Fans of the Huskies erupted with joy when the Red and Black drew first blood with 38 seconds left in the first period. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University

He and the rest of the Northeastern fans attending the Beanpot final at TD Garden are hoping to see another such celebration tonight.

The fans have been loud early and often. Count Mary Forde among them. Forde, a fifth-year student at Northeastern, plays the piccolo in Northeastern’s Pep Band.

“I went to the game last week too so I’m really pumped,” Forde said prior to the game. “We brought a lot of people.”

Northeastern goaltender Cayden Primeau did his best Patrick Roy impression to keep the Eagles off the board in the first period. At one point, Primeau lunged toward the goal line and used his stick to sweep a puck out of harm’s way before it could find the net.